FAA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, several FAA employees and members of the National Hispanic Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NHCFAE) share their stories of success and inspiration
By Maia Lee Sang, FAA Office of Communications
Teresa B. Metcalf
Like her father, who taught her to lead with her heart and soul and to work hard each day, Teresa Metcalf has grown to teach those same values as a mentor. As a Branch Manager of the Radar Technical Program Support Team at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, she aims to help others succeed in achieving their goals and building their confidence with her guidance. “It is my mission to see others succeed and reach their full potential,” said Teresa. Metcalf becomes overjoyed when seeing them happy as they advance in their careers
“I love to help others and to provide my coworkers and friends with guidance and examples of how to become all they can be.”
Yamileth Gonzalez
As a Drug and Alcohol Compliance and Enforcement Inspector, Yamileth Gonzalez helps keep the aviation industry in compliance with drug and alcohol testing laws, which ultimately keep the skies clear and protect the flying public. She experienced a happy and exciting childhood in Columbia and then began her career at the FAA as an air traffic assistant. After years in aviation, Gonzales has taken on multiple challenges that gave her opportunities to lead her to where she is today.
William Velazquez
“Although we were not preparing for a pandemic, we were ready for one,” said William Velazquez, an Aviation Safety Technician (AST). His background and experience in project management helped his office navigate the virtual world during this unprecedented event. Velazquez contributes his success to his mother. “If not for my mother, I would not know my daughter, I would have never been able to serve my country as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, or continue to serve my country as an AST for [the FAA].” He feels that her preservation throughout many hardships is symbolic of the American Dream.
“Immigrants (all-not just Hispanic)…have endured so much, looking for a better life, and finding it through hard work and determination, which she absolutely did for us both.”
Melissa Rivera
Melissa Rivera is a Management Program Analyst with a passion for aviation and business. Rivera worked hard to get to where she is today under her mother’s teachings of not placing limitations on what she could achieve. Since then, she has completed 12 years of active duty with the Air Force. At the FAA, she assists the five teams within the Air Traffic Organization’s Operations Support Group with providing operational and procedural oversight and support of ATO programs that promote the National Airspace System’s effectiveness and efficiency. Now, with inspiration from her grandfather, she hopes to run her own successful business one day.
Maritza Miranda
Mirand’s experiences in various lines of business within the FAA helped establish Maritza Miranda in her role as the District Technical Advisor of New York (TENY). “My aspiration to grow, learn new things and volunteer to participate in various work groups prepared me to acquire the skills that qualified me to obtain different jobs within Technical Operations, Engineering Services and the Air Traffic Organization.” Her work in outreach has been very important to her as it stems from her childhood where her strong family values originated. Just as her parents provided opportunities for extended family members in search of the American Dream, she aims to help employees create cross-developmental relationships to enable their success.
“We were raised to extend that olive branch, and I guess that is why giving back is such an important part of my life.”
Check out even more stories celebrating Hispanic Heritage below.
